Nate leaves a mess to clean up but little major damage in South Mississippi

Crews are out restoring power and cleaning up the sand and debris left by Hurricane Nate Sunday as South Mississippi returns to normal.

The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport resumed operations Sunday, but getting around on the roads was a little more challenging.

The Wilkes drawbridge on Mississippi 605 was reported stuck open around noon and was not closed again until around 2:30 p.m. Parts of U.S. 90 were given over to machinery cleaning sand off the road.

Stores, restaurants and the Edgewater Mall were open by midday Sunday. The Coast casinos got the go-ahead from the Mississippi Gaming Commission to reopen at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, 18 1/2 hours after they were directed to close by 5 p.m. Saturday as Nate approached.

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Mississippi Power brought crews from Georgia and spokesman Jeff Shepard announced Sunday morning, “We expect to restore service to all customers who can receive power by tonight.”

It could have been so much worse, but Nate weakened and stayed a Category 1 storm and brought wind, rain and storm surge to South Mississippi overnight Saturday. The Biloxi Lighthouse pier and a bridge in Pascagoula named for singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett were damaged. The Lake Mars pier at Gulf Park Estates was swept away. A boat washed that washed ashore on the front beach in Biloxi had people stopping to take photos.